Magnetic switch



Feb. 7, 1961 C. WEGNER 2,971,068

MAGNETIC SWITCH Filed sept. 17, 195s .-Plq 1 j, jug. .v

INVENTOR. 02m/0f WfGA/zsk.

United States Patent O "ice MAGNETIC SWITCH Claude Wegner, 429 S. 3rdSt., Clinton, Ind.

Filed Sept. 17, 1958, Ser. No. 761,584

3 Claims. (Cl. 200-67) This invention relates `generally to switchstructures land in particular to a low-cost switch structureincorporat-ing magnetic snap action.

' With the increased use of low voltage switching circuits for domesticlighting, it has become increasingly irnportant to provide a switchstructure for use in such circuits Which is simple in construction andwhich can be manufactured at low cost. To provide such a switchstructure with snap action, the conventional practice has required thateither a relatively complicated overcen'ter snap spring arrangement beutilized or that permanent magnets be utilized to provide the snapaction. When permanent magnets are used, conventional practice hasrequired that the switch incorporate somewhat costly and complicatedarmature and Contact structure.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a switch structureutilizing permanent magnets to provide snap action in'which the magnetsalso function as contact members.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a switchstructure wherein the contact blade functions both as a switchingymember and as an armature.

Av further object of the present invention is to provide a switchstructure which is relatively silent in operation, simple inconstruction and which can be manufactured at low cost. lThese and otherobjects will become apparent as the description proceeds with referenceto the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the switch structure embodying the presentinvention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional side view of the structure shown in Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an end view of the switch.

Referring to the drawings, the switch structure includes a generallyrectangular housing including opposed side Walls and 11, end walls 12and 13, and a base 14. The side walls and the end walls of the housingmay be molded of an electrically non-conducting, plastic material andthe base 14 may be formed of a potting resin, with the side and end wallstructure secured to the base by an adhesive or other suitable means. Itwill be understood that the Wall and base components might also bemolded or otherwise formed in unitary construction.

Imbedded in the base adjacent opposite ends thereof are U-shapedpermanent magnets 16 and 17. Terminal screws 18 and 19 are threaded intocontact plates 21, through the end portions of the base and intoelectrical contact with base sections 16a and 17a of the magnets 16 and17, respectively. The transverse portions of the magnets have partialthreads formed therein to accommodate screws 18 and 19, the screws beingadjusted to clamp' lead Wire within the commercial range of lead wirewhile maintaining electrical contact with their respective magnets.

2,971,068 VPatented Feb. 7, 1961 A pin 22 extends transversely acrossthe housing and is journalled for rotation in the opposed housing sidewalls, the axis of the pin being disposed above and midway between thetwo magnets. Rigidly secured to the pin is a switch blade 23 having itsfree ends overlying one pole face of each of the magnets 17 and 16. Atransverse member 24, integral with the housing side walls has a steppedboss 26 thereon which is disposed in sup porting engagement with theshaft 22 adjacent to its end opposite that carrying the blade 23.

As may best be seen in Fig. l an electrically conducting lug 27 extendsexteriorly of the housing sidewall 10 and is apertured so that the pin22 extends freely therethrough but is in electrical contact with thelug. The lower por tion 27a of the lug 27 extends into the housing andis formed so as to engage the magnet 16 providing electrical contactbetween the lug and the magnet.

The upper margins of the housing are framed by a generally rectangularmetal retaining member 2S -as may be seen in Figs. l and 4, theretaining member being omitted from Figs. 2 and 3. As may best be seenin Fig. 4 depending tongues 28a are formed at the ends of member 28, thetongues being recessed in the end walls 12 and 13. The member 28 isretained in place upon the switch by crimping extending tabs 29 aroundthe shoulders formed by the recess in the end walls. The retainingmember 28 cooperates with semi-circular notches 31 (Fig. l) formed inthe side walls 18 and 11 to pivotally accommodate members 33 whichextend sidewardly fromk a manual operator 34. The manual operator may bemolded from a suitable plastic material with its sidewardly extendingpivotal support members 33 being formed integrally therewith. Serrationsmay be formed on the upper surface of the operator 34 which facilitatemanipulation of the operator between its solid and broken line positionsof Fig. l. As may best be seen in Fig. 2 the under surface of theoperator 34 has depending therefrom spaced abutments 35 and 36 which arepositioned so as to engage the switch member 23 and move the switchmember into engagement with one or the other of the permanent magnetsdepending upon the posi-l tion of the operator.

In operation, with the manual operator in its position of Fig. 2 theswitch blade will be in electrical Contact with the magnet 17 and out ofengagement with the magnet 16. In this position the switch is closed bya circuit which may be traced from terminal screw 18, magnet 16, lug 27,pin 22, switch member 23, magnet 17 and terminal screw 19. As theoperator is moved from its solid line position of Fig. 1 into its brokenline position, the switch member 23 will be pivotally moved so that itengages the magnet 16 and disengages the magnet 17. In this position theswitch is open because of the break in electrical continuity caused bythe disengagement of the switch member 23 from the magnet 17.

From the foregoing it will be evident that, since the switch member 23acts as an armature and as a contact member, the switch is provided witha snapaction which assures effective electrical contact between theswitch member and the magnet. The arrangement whereby the magnetsfunction both as contact members and as a means providing the desiredsnap action further simplifies the switching structure.

This invention claimed is:

l. A magnetic snap-action switch structure comprising a housing having abase and opposed side walls, spaced permanent magnets supported on saidbase, an electrically conductive pin journalled for rotation in saidopposed side walls with its axis of rotation disposed above and centeredbetween said magnets, an electrically conductive lug having a portionextending exteriorly of said housing yand engaging said pin, a furtherportion of said lug extending interiorly of said housing and providingelectrical contact with one of said magnets, a magnetically permeableand electrically conductive switch blade supported intermediate its endson said pin with its free ends extending into overlying relationrespectively with said magnets, a manual operator supported between saidsidewalls for limited pivotal movement between a first position and asecond position, said operator being adapted to alternately move saidblade into engagement with said one of said magnets when moved to itssaid rst position and to mo-ve said blade into engagement with the otherof said magnets when moved to its said second position, and terminalscrews accessible exteriorly of said housing electrically connected tosaid magnets, whereby with said operator in said second position acircuit is completed through said one of said magnets, said pin, saidswitch blade and the other of said magnets, and when said operator is inits said first position the circuit through said switch is broken bydisengagement of said switch 1blade and said other magnet, said magnetsthereby acting to provide snap-action and as electrical contacts, saidblade acting both as a switch member and an armature.

2. A magnetic snap-action switch structure comprising a housing having abase and opposed side walls, spaced permanent magnets supported on saidbase, an electrically conductive pin journalled for rotation in saidopposed side walls with its axis of rotation disposed above and centeredbetween said magnets, an electrically conductive member havingelectrical contact with said pin and with one of said magnets, amagnetically permeable and electrically conductive switch bladesupported intermediate its ends on said pin with its free ends extendinginto overlying relation respectively with said magnets, a manualoperator supported between said sidewalls for movement between a firstposition and a second position, said operator being adapted toalternately move said blade into engagement with said one of saidmagnets when rmoved to its said first position and to move said bladeinto engagement with the other of said magnets when moved to its saidsecond position, and terminal screws accessible exteriorly of saidhousing electrically connected to said magnets, whereby with saidoperator in said second position a circuit is completed through said oneof said magnets, said pin, said switch blade and the other of saidmagnets, and when said operator is in its said first position thecircuit through said switch is broken by disengagement of said switchblade and said other magnet, said magnets thereby acting to providesnap-action and as electrical contacts, said blade acting both as aswitch member and an armature.

3. A magnetic snap-action switch structure comprising a housing having abase and opposed side walls, spaced permanent magnets supported on saidbase, an electrically conductive pin journalled for rotation in saidopposed side walls and disposed between said magnets, means providingelectrical contact between said pin and one of said magnets, a.magnetically permeable and electrically conductive switch baldesupported intermediate its ends on said pin with its free ends extendinginto overlying relation respectively with said magnets, a lmanualoperator supported between said sidewalls for movement between a lirstposition and a second position, said operator being adapted toalternately move said blade into engagement with said one of saidmagnets when moved to its said first position and to move said bladeinto engagement with the other of said magnets when moved to its saidsecond position, and terminal screws accessible exteriorly of saidhousing electrically connected to said magnets, whereby with saidoperator in said second position a circuit is completed through said oneof said magnets, said pin, said switch blade and the other of saidmagnets, and when said operator is in its said first position thecircuit through said switch is broken by disengagement of said switchblade and said other magnet, said magnets thereby acting to providesnap-action and as electrical contacts, said blade acting both as aswitch member and an armature.

References Cited inthe le of this patent i UNITED STATES PATENTS1,976,953 Mantz Oct. 16, 1934 1,989,277 Jeffrey Jan. 29, 1935 2,193,731Lamb Mar. l2, 1940 2,529,652 Dicke Nov. 14, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS n468,510 Italy Ian. 25, 1952

